There are around three million registered nurses in America. Nurses form the healthcare backbone of the medical industry. However, nursing does come with unique challenges. Below introduces six things that nurses must deal with every day that would motivate most people for a career change.
1. Angry Patients
Anyone who is sick or in pain will understandably have higher levels of anxiety, stress and frustration. As a result, people who are normally calm and rational can suddenly become very hostile and intimidating. The patient might yell, threaten to sue and even become physically combative. Nurses must successfully communicate with angry patients to help them receive the care they need.
2. Body Fluids
One of the most unpleasant nursing tasks is dealing with a variety of body fluids, such as blood, vomit, secretions and excrement. Patients who are immobile or seriously ill will need assistance with hygiene throughout the day. This is especially true for nurses who work in assisted living facilities.
3. Biological Hazards
Because nurses constantly deal with body fluids, they are regularly exposed to biological hazards. For example, human blood, secretions and fluids are capable of transmitting HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses. Therefore, blood borne pathogen and bio-hazard procedures must be strictly followed.
4. Infections
Hospitals are crawling with dangerous germs and bacteria. Nurses and other healthcare professionals are exposed to a variety of harmful bacteria every day. Of course, they must also work closely with a variety of dangerously ill patients every day. Therefore, their risk of getting sick with a contagious disease is much higher.
5. Pain and Suffering
Every day nurses deal with patients who are either ill or injured and in pain. Patients with serious chronic health issues or severe injuries will experience terrifying and traumatic pain. This is especially difficult if the patient is a child or an elderly person. As a result, nurses continually offer calming support and coordinated care to help patients through their difficult experience.
6. Dying Clients
Most working adults would cringe at the thought of dealing with clients who are dying. However, many nurses compassionately work with patients who are dying every day in different settings, such as the ER, hospice and oncology department. Nurses must witness the struggle of terminally ill patients throughout the dying process. As a result, nurses have a unique bond with the patient and often become their advocates.
Nurses are dedicated healthcare professionals that perform challenging and unpleasant tasks every day, however, the rewards outweigh the challenges. Medical workers with an online Master of Nursing have even more opportunities to provide advanced care to patients.